How record from Positive Grid Spark Amp?

[flingel]

Hi, does anyone record into Waveform from the Positive Grid Spark Amp? I have followed the advice from Positive Grid for recording into a DAW using the printer type cable to USB and it works fine in terms of getting the recording down but because of the Audio Setting I have to use in Waveform when I'm doing the actual recording (see attached), there is no option for separate input and output so all of the output is routed to the Spark which is far from ideal when I'm trying to clearly hear the rest of the tracks. I don't mind hearing the sound I'm recording through the Spark but I would like to hear the rest of the tracks through my main audio system. Is there a set up that can do this? (I'm on Waveform 12).

I'm aware that you can also record from the Spark using the headphone socket into an audio interface (in my case Focusrite Scarlett 2i4) but I get additional audio noise when I do this so that's not an option.

[Peter Widdicombe]

I don't know the Grid device at all, but ASIO4ALL allows you to have multiple devices for input and output. It's control panel allows you to select which devices are enabled; and they those selected are input and output channels to use.

[flingel]

I have tried that but although the Spark shows up in the control panel, it does not show as an input option for recording (see pic - Input 1+2 refers to the Focusrite interface). It only shows up as an input if I select the Spark as the device - but then all the output goes out through the Spark.

[Watchful]

I think you're stuck as long as you're not running the Spark's output into your audio interface, I fear.

You could run the headphone jack on the Spark into your audio interface, and let the audio interface be your pre-mixer before it gets to Waveform.

[flingel]

Thanks but as I say, inputting from the headphone jack results in noise I don't want and don't get going the other way - and AFAIK the lead I've tried is the correct one.

Positive Grid's short video on how to record from the Spark into a DAW



implies there should be no problem re monitoring so maybe it's just a problem with the way Waveform works. Although I'm surprised if I'm the only one doing this. Actually that video also says they're using Presonus Studio One (albeit with a Mac and I'm Windows) which comes free with the Spark so maybe I'll try downloading and testing on that to see if same issue. If so, guess I could query further with PG, and if not, guess it's probably Waveform.

[flingel]

Hi folks, well I'm very happy to say that - with the aid of the very helpful Positive Grid Support people - I have sussed how to do this. To be honest, I should have sussed it myself having previously posted the pic of the audio control panel, but I hadn't clicked the right boxes, which now I have seem obvious!

Anyway posting this in case anyone has similar query in future. So in order to record your guitar from the Spark and as you're doing so, hear the Spark through the Spark and the rest of the tracks through your monitoring system (in my case Focusrite interface) and then when you play back, to hear everything including the track you've just recorded from the Spark, through your monitoring system (and not the Spark!), you need to have ASIO4ALL as your audio device, and then click on the control panel so as to open the input for the Spark but close its output, and open the output for the Focusrite but close its input. As per the pic I've now posted.

All working great now

[flingel]

and looking back, it was exactly how Peter Widdicombe had said but I just didn't get it then, so apologies Peter!

[Peter Widdicombe]

I have stumbled through trying to use multiple audio interfaces before so had sort of seen these things before. Asio4all does handle this, although sometimes it can be challenging, particularly when the bitrates don't align.

Thanks for the confirmation !